Have you ever encountered information in a picture that you wanted to copy? An easy way to get that information without retyping it is to use Microsoft OneNote. It supports optical character recognition (OCR), so you can extract text from a picture, paste the text into an application, and edit it. OneNote is part of the Microsoft Office suite. If …

Developing strategies for business growth is a cornerstone of the modern organization. Developing strategies to help avoid business loss is just as important, which means business continuity plans are critical. These documents provide detailed plans on how to keep essential operations running during an emergency in order to minimize losses. Some organizations call these documents "disaster recovery plans." Others use …

Before getting rid of an old computer, you need to make sure that all the personal and sensitive data on the hard drive is irretrievable. If personal or sensitive data falls into the wrong hands, your business could incur staggering direct and indirect expenses. The average total cost of a data breach in 2015 was $3.8 million, according to the …

Windows 10 has many new and improved features. To make them easier to access and use, Microsoft has added some new keyboard shortcuts and improved others. Using these nine keyboard shortcuts can save you time: 1. Win+A Windows 10’s new Action Center notifies you of items that might need your attention, such as security alerts, recommended maintenance tasks, incoming emails, …

What is going to happen to the IT world in 2016? While no one knows for sure, it is possible to make a few educated guesses based on current industry trends. The following predictions offer both early warnings and potential opportunities for business owners, helping them chart the best course forward. Here are four IT trends business owners should watch …

Cloud service providers (CSPs) often claim that their customers’ personal data is secure in their clouds. You can now check to see whether that is the case, thanks to a global standard published in 2014. People often refer to the standard as ISO 27018 but its official title is "ISO/IEC 27018:2014 — Information technology — Security techniques — Code of …

While some small businesses do not bother with budgets, they can be quite useful. Besides helping you manage costs, a budget can highlight areas where you might need to invest more resources. It can also keep you on track in meeting your financial goals. Here are eight tips that can help you prepare an effective IT budget for 2016: 1. …

Managed services providers (MSPs) are lifesavers for business owners and executives to manage their IT equipment and services. Among many other things, MSPs update software, provide data backup solutions, and keep files safe from hackers. As the industry trade group CompTIA noted in a March 2015 report, over 70% of small and midsize businesses (SMBs) used a third-party IT company …

Governments around the world recognize electronic signatures (e-signatures) as a legal way to sign a document. For example, e-signatures have the same legal standing as physical signatures in the United States, thanks to the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act of 2000. Many people think that e-signatures and digital signatures refer to the same thing. However, that is …